Thursday, January 14, 2010

Comelec OKs Ang Ladlad, 143 other party-list groups

(UPDATED - 2:54 pm) The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Friday allowed 144 party-list groups, including gay party-list group Ang Ladlad, to participate in the May 10 national polls.

Through Resolution No. 8744, the Comelec en banc gave the go-signal to 144 out of the more than 300 party-list groups that filed their manifestations of intent to participate in the coming elections.

Among the approved party-lists is the Ang Ladlad, which was included in the list of qualified organizations through a Supreme Court order mandating the Comelec to print the gay group's name on the ballot for the May polls.

Section 10 of the Party-List System Act (Republic Act 7941) states that a voter is entitled to “a vote for a party, organization or coalition he wants represented in the House of Representatives" during elections.